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Latest / Government and geopolitics

Rule changeGovernmentEUConfirmed

EU Council gives final approval to the AI Act

See how this story connects

Source: Council of the EU press release

EU member states in the Council formally adopted the Artificial Intelligence Act on 21 May 2024, completing the legislative process after the Parliament’s vote in March. The act sets up an AI Office in the Commission, a scientific panel, an AI Board of member state representatives and an advisory forum, and excludes systems used only for military, defence or research. It applies two years after entry into force, with some provisions earlier or later.

Why it matters

Adoption by the Council made the AI Act law once published, starting the clock on bans, general-purpose AI duties and high-risk rules for anyone placing AI on the EU market.

When
21 May 2024
ID
WTA-N-2024-0102
Who
Council of the European Union
Rules involved

Summary by wheresthe.ai, from Council of the EU press release. Checked against the source on 9 Oct 2026.

Read the original at Council of the EU press release

Source copy: download the page as saved on 21 Oct 2026 (PDF). Also held by the Internet Archive.

Next stop on this Storyline: What happened nextEU AI Act published in the Official Journal, with AI medical devices classed high-risk

Cite this story

WTA-N-2024-0102: “EU Council gives final approval to the AI Act.” wheresthe.ai, 21 May 2024. https://wheresthe.ai/d/eu-council-final-approval-ai-act-2024-05/ (source: Council of the EU press release).

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